BANGOR – Brendan Murphy of John Bapst Memorial High School has been honored by President George W. Bush with the 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in mathematics and science teaching, the nation’s higher honor for teaching in these fields.

Murphy is the only math winner from Maine and one of 99 teachers nationwide to receive this award.

In a citation from President Bush to Murphy, he is commended “for embodying excellence in teaching, for devotion to the learning needs of the students, and for upholding the high standards that exemplify American education at its finest.”

Murphy will receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, the federal agency that administers the awards program on behalf of the White House. Murphy will also receive a trip for two to Washington, D.C., for a week of celebratory events and professional development activities.

ORONO – Diane Jackson, clinical instructor in special education in the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development, recently received the Sylvester Award from the Learning Disabilities Association of Maine.

The award is given to those who are dedicated to providing service to individuals with learning disabilities and attention disorders. Jackson received the award at the association’s state conference in Waterville on April 11.

Jackson says her work with the association “provides me with continuous contact with children and adults who have learning disabilities and-or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and strengthens my understanding of educational needs for the [kindergarten through] college levels.”